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“And so am I, baby. I’ve dreamed of a lot of things, and you and Lina were more than I ever prayed for. Julian’s the past. Whatever happened a few hours ago is in the past. I want to live in the now, baby. Where it’s just my fucking woman sitting on my lap, giving me the sexiest eyes I’ve ever seen and our daughter snoring peacefully next to us because she knows herdaddy is here to protect her. I love you, wild one, and I'm a tiny bit hurt you’ve been talking about Julian more than me.”

“I’m sorry,” her voice rasps. Her eyes fall on my torso, which is bandaged. One of her fingers trails up my skin, and my heart soars.

I love this woman. I’ve loved her since I saw her at that club. I’ve loved her since she came into my office with an attitude stern enough to freeze the entire city and loved her the minute I saw the little girl she called her daughter. No, our daughter. Lina is our daughter.

“Does it hurt?” she asks.

It doesn’t hurt as much as before, but I nod.

Lila grins, then she leans down and drops a soft kiss on my ribs.

“You know what hurts, too?” I tease when she sits straight up on my lap, our eyes locked. I tap my lips. “It hurts right here.”

Lila shakes her head with a chuckle, and right before she seals her mouth with mine, she utters five words that leave my chest pounding.

“I love you too, Alaric.”

Our kiss is searing. Her lips are soft and plush, and she tastes like everything I’ll want forever.

Unfortunately, our kiss doesn’t last as long as I’d like, because a tiny voice breaks the spell.

“Mommy, why are you kissing Alaric?”

I can’t even stop the grin that breaks out on my face as Lila squeals in surprise and hugs Lina while my little girl looks at me with a suspicious gaze.

“Baby, remember when I said your daddy went to heaven and he watches over us from there?”

“Mhm.” Lina nods disappointedly.

“Well, the Goddess sent him back from heaven so he could bake you cookies, make your favorite strawberry milk, read youbedtime stories, and tell you how much he loves you every day and night. Your daddy’s right here, baby. Alaric is your father.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

LILA WINTER

When Alaric kept us home for days under the guise that Lina needed rest while she recovered and I needed time to heal, I knew part of him was doing it to keep us to himself.

Not that I was complaining.

Waking up tangled in his arms, his lips pressed to my shoulder, him worshipping my body like he was afraid of losing me and never seeing me again? Schucks, it’s the best kind of peace I’ve felt in years, and it’s been a stepping stone toward finally getting over the nightmares Julian left me with.

On the other hand, Lina giggles more now, and cuddles into Alaric’s arms like she’s always known he was her father. And maybe she did the minute she met him at the hospital. Maybe that’s the way the Goddess meant it to be all along.

But today… today feels different.

Because now I understand why Alaric brought me here. Why he waited until I was ready.

I’m not just Lila Winter anymore. Not quite the same woman who had no one but her daughter on her side and no one else to fight for her.

I’m Irene. Daughter of Luna Mira and Alpha Chris. Born of the Moonlight pack. The rightful Luna of two legacies. And today, I’m going to stand in front of everyone and claim what I once lost.

The Blackwood Pack grounds are unrecognizable. The lawn has been transformed into a ceremonial paradise. Floral arches line the central path, woven with white jasmine and silver roses, symbols of both the Moonlight and Blackwood Packs. There are silver ribbons fluttering in the wind and lanterns still glowing from the dawn ceremony that began this morning.

It’s…breathtaking. Hell, it’s way better than the last time I was here.

I stand just behind the main dais, fingers locked tightly with Lina’s. She’s wearing a silver tulle dress with glittering beads on the bodice and tiny white wolf embroidery around the hem. The silver matches the shimmer in her eyes.

And me?